How to Determine the Volume of a Washing Machine

Manufacturers of washing machines promise that the various features of the company’s brand make it better than competing brands. However, many customers base their decision to purchase on the capacity of the machine. Calculate the volume of items that the machine can hold and compare the capacity of the brands you are interested in to select a washing machine that best fits your needs. The washing process occurs in the drum of the machine, which is shaped like a cylinder. To calculate the capacity of this drum, use the formula for finding the volume of a cylinder.

Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Open the washing machine and measure across the opening of the drum in feet. This is the diameter.
- 2
  Divide the diameter in half to obtain the radius. If the diameter is 3 feet, for instance, then the radius is 1.5 feet. Multiply the radius by itself to obtain its square. The square of a 1.5-feet radius is 2.25 feet.
- 3
  Measure the distance from the edge of the opening to the bottom or back of the drum. This is the height or depth of the drum.
- 4
  Insert the numbers into the formula for determining the volume of a cylinder, V = pr2h. "P" (p), or pi, is a constant representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is approximately 3.14. Multiply the numbers together to determine the volume of your washing machine. If the height is 4 feet, then multiply 3.14 x 2.25 x 4 to arrive at a volume of 28.26 cubic feet.

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